7023/A Croft comes Calling

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A Croft comes Calling
Date of Scene: 24 March 2019
Location: Unknown
Synopsis: Summary needed
Cast of Characters: Archangel, Lara Croft, Polaris




Archangel has posed:
Spring is finally starting to show itself in New York. While there is still a biting chill to the air - the first small and resilient buds of green are starting to showing in the landscape. The warmth of the sun is coming through the windows of the front foyer of the school. Which is where Warren Worthington is currently at. He's standing at one of the windows, his wings partially open as he takes in the sunlight.

The blonde angel is dressed in a grey turtleneck sweater that has been tailored to fit his wings, as most of his outfits have to be. A pair of black slacks cover his legs, leading down into a pair of brown leather shoes. His eyes are closed as he stretches out, his pale skin and white wings almost aglow in the sunlight.

Lara Croft has posed:
From the gate leading out to Greymalkin Lane, a black Jeep arrives and after entering the proper identification at said gate, the doors open and the vehicle starts in toward the school, coming around the circle drive and parking off to the eastern side of the front doorway.

After a second of finishing up inside the Jeep, the driver's door pops open and Lara Croft steps out. She's wearing a pair of dark tan colored trousers, with a white tanktop tucked into the beltless waist. Once outside of the vehicle she reaches back in and pulls out a gray button-up shirt off of the back of her seat, she goes about pulling the extra layer of clothing on and then buttoning it up to the last two or three. She then shuts the driver's door and starts to walk toward the school while she rolls the sleeves on the new shirt up to her elbows.

Lara's eyes raise up to the fancy school that once was a home and she has a faint smile on her face as she starts toward the two front doors. Everything looks to be peacefully in order here, which makes her happy to see. As she approaches the doors, she decides it best that she press the ringer rather than just walk in, she doesn't work here officially any longer after all.

Archangel has posed:
As the Jeep approaches, Warren watches it's aproach. And when the driver emerges, there's a loft of a blonde brow, and a smile creases his features. Making his way to the door, he actually /waits/ for Lara to ring before he opens the door to her. It also gave him a chance to run a hand through his blonde locks, making sure that they're mildly toussled. The door creaks open for her, Warren giving a glance upwards at the offending noise. "I need to make sure someone gets some WD-40 after that."

The door opens fully, and Warren tucks his wings behind him - as if it makes them any less noticable. "Miss Croft!" he offers in warm delight. "It has been quite some time since we have last seen each other." In fact, the last time she may have seen Warren, he may have been blue-skinned with silver wings. "To what do I owe the delightful pleasure?"

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara's eyes were down on her cell phone when the door opened with a creak and her eyes go up to that of Warren's. She can spot the details on a relic in a tomb to identify its point of origin within milliseconds, but the faces of people who've had their skintone change since the last time she saw them? Well that takes at least a couple seconds total!

"Warren?" Lara says his first name. She seems surprised by his physical alteration since they last met, but she's soon to move past it and offer him a big smile. "You're looking quite dapper." The British woman says, intending the comment to be kind and fun, if nothing else.

Lara's eyes then dart past Warren into the school where she can see the sun shining in through the large window over the stairs. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything, I was hoping to stop by and speak with Professor Xavier if he's available..."

Archangel has posed:
"A lot has changed in the last couple of years, Lara." Warren responds. And if Lara allows, the woman is pulled into a quick and warm hug before setting her back down on the ground. "And you are looking aboslutely beguiling, as always." Warm laughter rises from him before she turns her attention from him to the hall beyond, and Warren moves aside to allow her access to the school.

"The Professor is on a sabbatical." Warren admits with a faint frown and a shake of his head. Then he bucks up. "However, Jeanie is filling in as the Headmistress if you wanted to talk to her. I'm not sure she's available at the moment, but you're more than welcome to stay while I check? It would be nice to catch up with you." There may have been just the slightest scuffing of a toe. "Planning on teaching a class here again? I've decided to come back as the school's flight instructor." With that, his wings - looking very much real - give a slight flicker of trying not to show off and preen for the woman. "Ironic, right?"

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara would return the light hug and she'd move inside when the space was offered to allow her too. She steps into the front of the main foyer that overlooks the rest of it and her eyes look back to Warren after scanning around it, she still holds her phone between her hands in front of her waist though she moves to slip it into the front left pocket of her pants.

A light smile is shown to Warren as he explains his renewed role at the school and shows off his wings a bit too, she's a big fan of those. "Oh what that flight ability could've offered me in my past..." Lara chides. She's not a mutant, she's no real 'powers' to speak of at all beyond the skills she's earned herself through arduous practice.

"I'm sorry to hear about the Professor not being here, but its... to be expected, with an unannounced visit." She then lightly shakes her head. "I won't trouble Miss Grey. I'd be more than willing to come and speak to the students, but honestly I just came by to check in and see how everyone was... what with the Sentinel situation going on. I don't know... a lot about it, admittedly, as its not really a part of my work, but. Yeah. I wanted to make sure everyone here was, good." She shows another quick and soft smile on her lips.

Archangel has posed:
"Thanks, I grew up with them." Warren responds with a soft burble of laughter as she makes it know that she's not here to visit the school to teach, but to check on their well-being. A sigh rises from within someplace and he reaches up to rub at the back of his head. Closing the door, there's a glance towards the skies before it fuly closes. "We've already problems with a couple of them in Gotham, if the reports I read are correct. I haven't come across any in the few flights I've taken since I've gotten back. But I'm not going to allow those clockwork racists keep me indoors and cowering away from them."

"We're trying to figure out a way to address it. It depends on what happens when we have contact with them. Are they immediately going to attack us, like the ones in Gotham. Will it be something else? Until we know for sure - I just don't know." he gives a shake of his head at the thought.

"We're good. We're as good as we're always going to be, at least. I don't doubt it." His blue eyes return to Lara's own as he returns his attention fully to her. "It's not that we would turn down any support though. Anything to help show that mutants really aren't all that different from everyone else. Except you know.." He flicks his wings. Not a full display. There's a smile offered to her. "...anyone special in your life?"

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara stands at the top of those few steps that lead down into the center of the foyer where the sun is shining on the rug laying in the middle of the floor. She places one foot down onto the first step leading toward that area but she pauses and stares to Warren, keeping her attention on him as he speaks.

"I heard a little bit about the Gotham attack, not a lot, just... I thought some of you here might have been involved in it." Lara doesn't know about the X-Men, she's a mid level SHIELD Agent and that kind of knowledge isn't in her field of 'need to know'. But she worked here for half a school year, so she knows full well the power that the people here have and that many of them are very well trained in using their mutations. "Which is partially why I wanted to talk to the Professor. To offer him something, for all of you. A place to go, if you ever need one, that is a bit further away than this location."

The British explorer shows another soft smile before his final question makes her release a light and soft laugh. She looks away from him then toward the grand staircase on the other side of the room. "Do my friends count?" She asks, looking back at him then and grinning lightly.

Archangel has posed:
"Oh?" Warren asks curiously. "If you like, I'm more than capable of passing on messages. I've been a part of the school since it's first class, so I'd like to think that I can get out information when it's needed." There's a pause for a moment as he considers her. But she made a step to find a place to sit and Warren takes the hint, moving to lead her to the sitting area in the grand room so they can talk while seated.

"Magneto has had his daughter, Lorna, visiting the school as of late. I can probably safely assume that he wants to offer Genosha as a safe haven, should it come to it." There's a small shrug of Warren's shoulders that cause he wings to move slightly as he waits for her to be seated first, then he takes his own seat. To do so, the wings do have to come out on display as he settles back. "But I think Jean would like to know there was other options available."

When she brings up her current situation, there's a tilt of his head and he offers a slight chuckle. "I suppose that was a polite way of me asking if you might be available some evening to enjoy a more personal dinner to catch up?"

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara does move to sit at one of the chairs to the side of the room and she seats herself on the edge of it, doesn't lean back, instead she elects to keep her back straight as she sits with good posture... a sign of her upbringing, really.

"That would be lovely." She says back to him with a light smile, answering his last question about an evening out together. She has no reason to deny such an offer, she's not seeing one... she never HAS been in a relationship, admittedly. "I'll be in town for another week or so before I have to leave for... well, I can't say." She smiles lightly then toward him.

Further then, she nods two quick and small times. "Genosha is likely a better choice than anything I could offer, but... at the same time, this place." She glances around the foyer and then back to Warren. Her right hand comes up and she sets it and her forearm down on the table beside her. "It has inspired me. I've recently restored my family's home in London, but I've no intention of occupying it any time soon, nor should a single person like me even require that much space ever, really." She draws in a breath then and rises a little higher in her seat because of it. "I wanted to discuss with Professor Xavier, plans on... doing what you all do here, for... mutants in the London area. Based out of my family's home--this of course being the place that I would invite everyone here to go to, if they ever needed a place away from... well, here."

Archangel has posed:
"So a London based Xavier's school?" Warren asks - shelving aside the idea of a date - as nice as that is that she said yes, it can wait. There's other business at hand. "Or at least - the Croft School of Gifted Youngesters." he offers in a slight tease. Though he does reach across to cover and squeeze her hands in gratitude before releasing them. "That could be a very grand idea. There is already a few teams that operate in Great Britian. And we have a fair share of students and alumini that have come from there."

"It is definitely an idea I can present to Jean to send to the Professor, since they talk regularly, if you want. We've had staff that's spent time over there as well, and would probably enjoy the chance to return. Would you like me to speak to Jean, and see about setting up a meeting?" he asks curiously. Of course that would be seperate from their evening.

He gives a little laugh of amusement. "I don't know if I should be embarassed for interrupting what was clearly a business trip for you with my suggestion."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara has to laugh lightly at the names he suggests, specifically the one with her surname on it. That, of course, makes her shake her head side to side. "Certainly not a moniker I wish to have placed upon any signs, no." She says, humility is something Lara Croft has in spades, she is not one to boast about herself by any means. "I've never heard of any such schools in the London area, but its possible that its just information that wouldn't come to someone who's not a member of the mutant kind... All the same, I would like to offer them the chance to use the home as well, if it would aide them in what they're doing."

With another intake of air, Lara smiles at his hand gesture toward her own and she nods softly a single time to him. "I would be delighted to speak to Miss Grey on this, at the earliest moment. Its probably nothing that is pressing or needs to be considered rushed, by any means of course, but... Yes. I don't know, I just wish to make the property have a use that goes beyond anything I could give it. I grew up there, an only child... it was like my kingdom, yet I had no one else to share it with." She shakes her head side to side. "I don't wish that put upon any children, were I to ever have any. That might sound vain, poor poor 'rich girl' but, still... I would rather many enjoy it, instead of few. If that makes any sense."

Archangel has posed:
"As far as I'm aware, outside of Frost's Massachusetts Academy, Xavier's is the only school of it's kind for mutant kind. I don't know if one is established in Genosha - I am sure by now that Erik or Lorna has started that process." Warren responds as he sits up and folds his hands in lap as he sits across from Lara Croft in the main foyer. The two of them are enjoying the sunlight and sharing in conversation at the moment.

"You forget, Lara, I grew up a 'rich boy', I totally understand where you're coming from." he admits with a laugh. "Now that I've become the sole owner of Worthington Industries, I'd like to do more to help - but the board of directors that my father has left in place are a rather... disinterested lot when it comes to mutant rights." There's a heavy sigh at that. "I took them into Mutant Town the other day - a surprise trip, I admit. I wanted them to see the projects and conditions that they live in. That we could use our technology and money to turn it around. They just don't see the profit in it, they said." There's a chuff of disapointment in his tone. "But they offered to open a frogurt shop in a space there to help mutants get jobs."

The eyeroll could be audible as he shakes his head and makes a face. "I don't have any anctient land or large home to donate - my parents decided a long time ago to give that up for the penthouse that's now mine. But I think the idea of a second school in London - that would be more accessible to those students that would erstwise not come to America, is a grand idea, Lara.'

Lara Croft has posed:
"Thats right..." Lara softly says back to Warren when he reminds her that he came from a similar background with wealthy parentage and... as far as she knows he's an only child too. "The New Your lifestyle for your parents." She slightly grins. The bit about his family's corporation behind held back by the board of its directors just makes her shake her head and lightly laugh, but its a world weary laugh. "Frogurt solves all, clearly." She jests.

"Don't let up on them, Warren." She says then, a bit more passion behind her words then. "Keep chipping away at them... They'll come around once they see how much you believe in the idea. They're just terrified of losing their yachts and penthouses."

"Maybe I'm out of my element with this concept and idea, I don't rightly know. But it feels like a good idea and a good thing to try to do. As busy as I am, I've only been back to my family's home once in the past two years. Clearly I don't need it. But its far better than relinquishing it to my extended family, who'd only use it for parties and... well, they're selfish people." She shows a faint smile again then.

Polaris has posed:
Lorna came in as was usual these days, softly padding through the mansion on soft soled shoes and wearing a pair of cream colored dress pants with a loose fitting violet sweater that hung around her shoulders in an offset of her hair color. The Princess of Genosha had said months ago she only intended to visit, but now, it was clear with the Sentinel issues that she was here to stay for at least a little while longer.

Though most of her days were spent off the mansion grounds, she could still be seen in and out of the building proper. Today, she was typing away on a silvery tablet, a look of intense concentration on her expression before she spotted Lara and Warren sitting down to chat. She paused, but offered Warren a faintly distracted smile. "Hey, sorry to interrupt. Were you guys talking about Mutant Town?"

Archangel has posed:
"They're so embedded in my father's ideals..." His anti-mutant ideals. It's not been an easy time for Warren. But there's no need to discuss that at the moment. "Maybe I should take away all of their cushy bonuses. Or something." He laughs at that, before glancing to Lara. "No, I am not taking you out for Frogurt to prove how true that statement is." he responds in more than a little amusement as he lowers his head in thought.

"It's a grand idea. I approve. As much as that means for the party boy of the school." He was one, once. He's getting better at it, really!

"You mentioned wanting a flight ability. You know how to pilot?" Warren asks curiously. "I'm an FAA certified instructor. Something they kind of made me do." he jests as he notices the approach of the green-haired Princess. Rising to his feet politely, Warren chuckles. "We were disucussing a good number of things, Lorna." comes the response as he gestures to the couch perpendicular to the chairs. "You were among those subjects. Please, join us and I'll make introductions."

With that, he starts with present company. "Lara Croft, this is Lorna Dane. Graduate of the school, currently Princess of Genosha here on a diplomatic visit for her father. Lorna, this is Lara Croft, she works in acquisitions for the American Musuem of Natural History, and has been a teacher here quite a few times." To let Lorna know she has a level of trust.

"I was just telling Lara of my frustrations in getting any traction of reforming the Mutant Town area, among other things." He doesn't bring up the idea of what Lara wants to do with her land. Not until she gives her approval.

Lara Croft has posed:
"No frogurt." Lara quips with a small grin. "Got it and I wish I could say that i had ideas on how to help your family's business, but... that is far from my specialty, sadly so. It sounds as though they need a cold dose of perspective, but, how to give them that? Thats a hard question to answer..."

Lara then nods her head one quick time to Warren. "My mentor, Conrad Roth, taught me a little about piloting helicopters and I've had some... rudimentary training in flying small planes, prop planes. Nothing too impressive there though. Its certainly a skill I would like to develop, but finding the time is challenging." She shows a light grin before her eyes then turn to the arriving Lorna.

Its a Princess, so Lara moves to stand up to greet her in her thick London accent. "Hello. Its a pleasure." Lara offers her a hand. "I've just stopped by to check in on everyon here, due to all that has been happening lately... I'd had my concerns. I've heard much about Genosha, and your father, it sounds like a great place for mutant kind."

Polaris has posed:
A quirk of a smile pulled at the corners of her lips as Warren greeted her and told her that she was part of the topic of conversation, among other things. She'd thought she'd briefly heard Mutant Town from down the hall, but it was so commonly spoke of around the place, it was hardly of note. Still, the young woman turned, and Lorna settled her gaze on Lara as she was introduced more fully and the other woman held out her hand in greeting. Lorna inclined her head, gently shaking the offered hand. "Nice to meet you. Anyone that cares about what's going in the world at large, and has concerns is always welcomed here as far as I'm concerned. Particularly when there's talk of helping people in Mutant Town." She made to sit down at the couch Warren had gestured to, and crossed her legs at the ankle.

The tablet she'd been typing away on was clicked off and set aside.

"What were some of your ideas? Sorry, if I'm asking you to repeat information. But you've got me curious now."

Archangel has posed:
"Yeah. I can totally understand that." Warren says with a smirk. "I think the only reality they understand at the moment is the one that involves dollar signs - and with the current issue and the Sentinels, that is not going to be an easy task." Once Lorna joins them, Warren returns to his own seat, settling his wings behind himself. As much as he wants to discuss a problem student, that can wait for later with the current discussion.

"Lara, is it alright if I bring up your idea?" he asks her. It's her idea after all. And not his to share.

Lara Croft has posed:
"I'm more than happy to get involved where and how I'm able to." Lara starts in her response to Lorna then. "Sadly I'm so busy that I rarely have the most up to date information on what is currently happening. I'm often left feeling a little... behind, once I return to civilization from wherever it is that I've been sent too of late." She draws in a breath then and shows a remorseful look. "For instance, I know of Mutant Town, but I don't know much about it. I'm not... precisely from around here, I've lived in the United States primarily for only three years now and my time in Manhattan has mostly been relegated to the museum, my other job, and my home within the city."

At Warren, Lara nods her head and motions toward him. "By all means." She says with a soft smile for the winged man. "Its probably an idea that won't be of much use in the now, but maybe in the future it could be..."

Polaris has posed:
Interest colored the green eyed gaze of the Genoshan Princess and Lorna edged her figure to the corner of the chair as she glanced between Warren and Lara in turn. "I can understand feeling left out of what's going on. There's always a million things that require my attention and I'm constantly pulled all over the place." She'd been in Genosha, New York, and back again repeatedly in the past few weeks. She'd gone to diplomatic meetings, business deals, and been helping students that came her way, curious about who she was and what Genosha was like.

A faint twist of her lips, vaguely sympathetic in an earnest way, as she exhaled a breath, folding her hands on her lap. "Well, Mutant Town is very much an experience if you're unfamiliar with it. People that live there are stubborn though, it's their community, and attempts at bringing in support can look like an attempt at Gentrification if you're not careful. And that'll cause a whole host of other issues." As Warren spoke of Lara having an idea and she spoke of it being more of a long term idea, she glanced between them again, curious.

Archangel has posed:
"It's a way of the government to get mutants into an area where it's easier to keep an eye on them. And now with the Sentinels.." Warren's wings bristle slightly, but he manages to keep it under control. "Noone blames you for putting your duty first, Lara." But it gives him ideas on what they should do in the future. He smiles towards the English woman before he turns his attention towards Lorna.

"Lara has a sizable estate in the London countryside. She wants to speak to the Professor about using the land and home as perhaps a second school, like Xavier's. I think it's a grand idea. And we were discussing what other schools there are. There's the one Frost runs, but I was not sure of Genosha's education infrastructure, and knew you could speak better of it, Lorna." Warren responds.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara looks between the two of them and then softly nods her head head to the summation of Mutant Town and its moral and ethical dilemmas. "Ah... yes, that is, troublesome. I would like to go there some time and have a look around, maybe there are ideas I could come up with to help there, locally." She's not sure, she doesn't want to overstep her grounds either and that seems pretty clear. She's a human, not even of the meta-variety. Just a plain ol' human woman.

While Warren lays out her plan for her family's home in Surrey, Lara looks to Lorna and then back to Warren. "I really just want to help. After my semester of teaching here, I realized how much good this place is doing and the thought of this place being one of the only, if not the only one of its kind in a world where so many people need... outlets such as this?" She lightly shakes her head. "Its just necessary. My family's home is large, it could hold a student body twice the size of whats here, if not more. To know that it was going to something like what Professor Xavier has donated his home toward? Its enough to make me truly feel a sense of... I don't know, accomplishment, I suppose."

Polaris has posed:
Lorna inclined her head, "Genosha has schools Warren, and as the bulk of the population is mutant... well, yeah. Education in Genosha is free for all levels, and abilities. It's something that everyone needs. People on Genosha are at different levels of training, powers.. it's all a very interesting model. To provide public education which includes how to handle mutant abilities," She murmured, glancing around the mansion at large.

"I suggested a few models of instruction based on what we do here, when I was asked that is. Education isn't my strong suit, not when it comes to teaching." She murmured, her gaze returning back to Lara and she smiled as the other woman spoke of what she planned to do.

"I think that's wonderful. I'm not sure where your country stands on Mutant Rights, but having something for people there would help immensely, I'm sure. Not everyone has the means or interest, or ability, to travel to other countries."

Archangel has posed:
"I didn't doubt that you had something in place, Lorna. Just did not know what the level of it was." Warren corrects gently. He did not want to suggest that Genosha had no education system - he just didn't know if there was a University of Genosha. "Considering that we've had more than a fair share of mutants from both Europe and Great Britian, I also know that there is groups that work there." Like Excalibur. Lara may know about that, considering the legend of the sword and Avalon and such.

A beep from his phone interrupts him, and Warren glances at his phone and gives a sigh. "I have a meeting to tend to." Rising from his seat, he laughs. "They're early risers in Madripoor." comes the explanation, before he reaches to take Lara's hands, if allowed, and gives them a squeeze. "Your number still the same? I'll give you a call later this week to spend some time with you before you have to depart?"

Lara Croft has posed:
All the talk of Genosha has Lora suddenly realizing its a part of the world she's not been to, which puts it on her radar of a place she definitely wants to go to. As such she flashes a quick smile to Lorna. "If you and your people are ever in need of someone of my variety, I'd be more than happy to see your homeland someday." She tells her. "I admittedly am a bit of a history... enthusiast and I know little of your society, so I feel that should change."

When Warren rises though, she does as as well and she smiles at him as he takes her hands and she offers him a light nod of her head as well. "Thank you, Warren and yes the number should still be the same, I'll have to leave a new living address before I live though as I've changed homes in the city since I was here. But that being said, thank you for hearing me out today and if Miss Grey is interested, I'll be eager to hear from her. Look forward to seeing you again soon as well."